New Cookbooks

There is something about a new cookbook. I sit down and read cookbooks like I read a regular book.

We live in a smaller town. We have a small bookstore here, but they do not have a large selection of books. So today we went up to the larger town/city close to us. And I hit up a real bookstore. Of course, I walked out with a new cookbook or two. Plus I got a book on smoothies, which is a new love of mine. We live in the deep south and since it gets so hot here in the summer, a smoothie often hit the spot when I do not choose to eat a big lunch .

Anyway, back to my point. New cookbooks. Now, I am pretty frugal when it comes to books. I own so many I need to be practical. So I hit the bargain area. I came across two that I really liked, so they came home with me. I can not wait to see down and read them. I need a dessert to take this weekend, so maybe this will inspire me.

Things I love

I am blog reader. I have always read this blog and have enjoyed it. Every week she does a show us your life. I decided to chime in this week.

This week's theme is things I love.

First and foremost, I love my husband. Above anything else.

And in no real particular order I love
my family
my friends
reading
scrapbooking
Sonic sweet peach tea
summer
the beach


and since this is my baking journal more than a true blog things I love about baking
new cookbooks
fresh baked bread
baking
sharing baked good

Tastefully Simple

My husband and I are trying to make our dream of parenthood come true. We need more funds to adopt, so I have started selling Tastefully Simple. Every penny I make will go towards our dream. If you are interested in helping us, feel free to order or host a party , catalog is fine.

http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/jdoherty

strawberries with custard

Since we have so many strawberries I am trying to use them. Spring is over in the south and while we wanted dessert we did not want anything heavy. I was flipping through the Williams-Sonoma savory desserts cookbook and came across a recipe for strawberries with custard. So I decided to whip it up.

I tossed 2 cup strawberries with some sugar and let them refrigerate for a few hours.

To make the custard you need
1 c. milk
2 egg yolks
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp flour
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp vanilla

In a saucepan over med. heat warm the milk until small bubbles form on edge,but not boiling. In a bowl beat the egg yolks, sugar and flour until mixture is pale and thick. Slowly pour in milk while stirring constantly. Pour the contents of the bowl into the saucepan. Stir in lemon zest and heat over low . Stir continuously until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. About 5 min (mine took almost 8) . Stir in vanilla. Pour in bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on custard (Prevents a skin) . Let cool.

To serve : put down a layer of strawberries. Place custard on top and lay more strawberries over custard. Top with whipped cream.

This was so good. We really enjoyed it and can not wait to try it with other berries. I love blackberries and think it would be so good with that.

homemade strawberry pie - sort of

Since my husband is home we recently went strawberry picking. For my local friends we went here / Needless to say we came home with some strawberries.

I have to date made a pie, cleaned and hulled 6 cups and have some reserved for tonights dessert which I will post tonight.

So, we love strawberry pie. I do cheat and get pre made crust because I cannot make a crust to save my life. My mother and grandmother can make great pie crust. Me, not so much.

So I baked my crust. I cleaned and hulled 4 cups of strawberries. I then made this strawberry glaze. It was so easy and so good. I then gently turned in the strawberries and put the mixture in the pie crust. I chilled it then we ate. I top mine with the canned whipped cream. My husband uses cool whip. To each his own.

cake with lemon filling and lemon buttercream frosting

First off, I am a good baker. I am not, however, a good cake assembler. So there is no picture of the entire cake, because pretty it is not.

My husband absolutely loves lemon. And since he returning from six months overseas , I felt it was important to make something for him. And since I am not a lemon fan this was all for him.

I made this cake with filling and frosting.

It was a bit time consuming . You make each part by itself and them assemble it.

I tried a small slice and really it was not bad. My husband said next time to make the cake lemon too. And for him, I would.

I would definitely make this again and may like to try it with other fruit flavors in it.